Series 3
From Wlwiki
The first of two years when the season was divided between filming in both London and New York. The American audiences are rowdier, but the comedy dropped a tad in standard in New York for some reason. Otherwise WLIIA is really hitting it's straps now.
Mike McShane (thirteen shows and both compilations)
Josie Lawrence (seven shows and both compilations)
Sandi Toksvig (six shows and one compilation)
Greg Proops (five shows and both compilations)
Tony Slattery (four shows and one compilation)
Ryan Stiles (four shows and one compilation)
Paul Merton, Jim Sweeney (three shows and one compilation)
Colin Mochrie (two shows and both compilations)
Jim Meskimen, Chris Smith (two shows and one compilation)
John Sessions, Mark Cohen (two shows)
George McGrath (one show and one compilation)
Archie Hahn, Steve Steen, Julian Clary, Denalda Williams (one show)
03-031-000-LONDON
Original Air Date:
Production Number:
Cast: Clive Anderson with Josie Lawrence, Greg Proops, Jim Sweeney (first appearance), Tony Slattery and Richard Vranch at the piano.
Authors: It's how I killed my fairy godmother with Josie as the Michelin Guide to famous landmarks in London, Greg as Jack Kerouac, Jim as Tolkien and Tony as My Little Pony.
Alphabet: Jim and Greg are in a stick-up.
Song Styles: Josie sings about a rubber duck in Calypso style.
Props: Josie and Greg v Jim and Tony.
Gospel: Greg, Jim, Josie and Tony sing about cake decorating.
Helping Hands: Josie with Greg providing hands complains to decorator Jim with Tony providing hands.
Party Quirks: The Tony hosts with Jim getting everything wrong, Josie is turning into a kangaroo, and Greg is a compulsive talker.
Expert Translation: Josie talks about sheep in Albanian as Jim translates.
Psychiatrist: Psychiatrist Josie has advice for Greg who thinks he's an eskimo, Jim who is scared of hats and Tony who's in love with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Credits Reading: Tony auditions for an Australian soap opera.
Game won by: Tony.
Best Game: The Psychiatrist game is a clear standout for me.
Worst Game: Helping Hands makes it's debut sans Props and just looks a bit contrived.
Clive's Best Bit: "My little Tony..... My Little Pony, sorry.... My Little Tony is completely different and not so little, I shouldn't wonder."
Josie's Best Bit: Singing some dodgy advice in Psychiatrist.
Tony's Best Bit: I loved his turtle song.
Greg's Best Bit: Convincing as a compulsive talker somehow.
Jim's Best Bit: Makes something of a silly problem, being scared of hats.
Quote of the day: Clive: "Tony is going to provide the hands for Jim..." Josie: "Thank God for that!"
Game should have been won by: Greg is strong throughout.
Should have stayed home and had a stiff whiskey: Jim just doesn't look comfortable here somehow.
Trivial Observation: The early Psychiatrist games don't seem as effective without a bed for the patients: strange how a little detail like that could make a difference. And with no Props for Helping Hands this seems like the budget edition of WLIIA.
Overall: This is a comfortable show without real highlights or low lights, a professional cast are okay but it's not exactly memorable.
03-032-000-LONDON
Original Air Date:
Production Number:
Cast: Clive Anderson with Josie Lawrence, Mark Cohen (first appearance), Tony Slattery, Mike McShane and Richard Vranch at the piano.
Film And Theatre Styles: Josie is in Tony's butcher shop in the styles Star Trek movies, Disney, pantomime and gangster movie. Then Mark and Mike meet on the first day of camp in the styles martial arts, Laurel and Hardy and tragedy.
Props: It's Mike and Mark v Tony and Josie.
Musical: Josie, Tony, Mark and Mike sing about the birth of children, an attack of the mumps and travelling the world.
World's Worst: Josie, Mark, Tony and Mike perform the worst entertainment act.
Duet: Josie and Mike sing about dentists in blues style.
Film Dub: Tony asks Mark for his daughter's hand in marriage.
Party Quirks: Tony hosts with Mark having a 5 second memory, Josie as Little Red Riding Hood and Mike as a hell's angel.
Gospel: Josie, Mark, Tony and Mike sing about train spotting.
Credits Reading: Josie as Janet Street Porter.
Game won by: Josie.
Best Game: The Film Dub is probably the highlight.
Worst Game: The Props game aint the best.
Clive's Best Bit: "The thinking man's crumpet, Josie Lawrence".
Josie's Best Bit: Funny playing off Tony in her F&TS scene.
Tony's Best Bit: Doing an impression of Clive at his Come As Clive Anderson Party.
Mike's Best Bit: Has his moments in the Musical.
Mark's Best Bit: The occasional smile in the Musical.
Quote of the day: Josie: "What big teeth you have Tony." Tony: "Big what?"
Game should have been won by: Tony enlivens a fairly dull show.
Should have stayed home and studied Greek: Mark looks really out of place here.
Trivial Observation: Tony mentions Mike is a good kisser, a reference to an incident shown in the compilation show, episode 39.
Overall: The poorest of the London shows of this season, it just never gets off the ground.
03-033-000-LONDON
Original Air Date:
Production Number:
Cast: Clive Anderson with Mike McShane, Sandi Toksvig, Paul Merton, Jim Sweeney and Richard Vranch at the piano.
Film And Theatre Styles: Mike and Sandi are strangers in adjoining hotel rooms in the styles medical drama, traditional Japanese and courtroom drama.
Alphabet: Jim rescues Paul from quicksand.
Song Styles: Mike sings a Calypso song about a mouldy tomato.
Expert Translation: Sandi talks in Outer Mongolian about the toilet habits of yaks translated by Paul.
March: Jim, Sandi, Paul and Mike about hang gliding.
Props: It's Paul and Mike v Jim and Sandi.
News Report: The subject is Humpty Dumpty with Sandi hosting, Paul as an expert, Jim as a reporter, and Mike as a King's horse and Humpty Dumpty.
Helping Hands: Paul goes to see Doctor Jim with Sandi providing hands.
Musical Producers: It's The Election of a Prime Minister with Paul and Sandi producing and Mike and Jim performing.
Credits Reading: Mike as a 1930s radio announcer.
Game won by: Mike.
Best Game: The Helping Hands scene is a winner. The only time the game works without any props, thanks to Jim's quick-thinking and Sandi's wild hands.
Worst Game: The Musical Producers scene doesn't seem to raise a laugh.
Clive's Best Bit: "The ever-changing face of Paul Merton, the secret lovechild of whistler's mother and Van Gogh's uncle."
Mike's Best Bit: Bounces along with the Calypso.
Paul's Best Bit: Very funny setting up Helping Hands.
Sandi's Best Bit: The best ever at being translated.
Jim's Best Bit: A clever March.
Quote of the day: Sandi: "What an interesting phenomenon this is, a man who is as big as he says he is."
Game should have been won by: Mike, this is one of those shows where his talent seems overwhelming.
Should have stayed home and recited times tables: Jim leers away to little effect.
Trivial Observation: For once Paul does an almost rhythmic March and it was funny as well.
Overall: A bit up and down frankly.
03-034-000-LONDON
Original Air Date:
Production Number:
Cast: Clive Anderson with Josie Lawrence, Paul Merton, Julian Clary (only appearance), Mike McShane and Richard Vranch at the piano.
Film And Theatre Styles: Door to door salesman Julian knocks at Paul's door in the styles Greek tragedy, Disney, Berkoff and pirate movie. Then Josie suspects Mike of having an affair in the styles Australian soap opera, Twin Peaks and old time music hall.
Film Dub: Paul is a customer at Julian's escort agency.
Interview: Julian from a fanzine talks to Mike as Julius Caesar.
Song Styles: The subject is electric drills with Mike doing reggae and Josie doing heavy metal.
Props: It's Josie and Paul v Julian and Mike.
Alphabet: Julian puts Paul under arrest.
Expert Translation: Josie explains Volvoes in Swedish translated by Paul.
Gospel: Josie, Paul, Julian and Mike sing about needlepoint.
Credits Reading: Paul as a taxi driver.
Game won by: Paul.
Best Game: The Film and Theatre Styles scene between Paul and Julian is something that really sticks in the memory.
Worst Game: The Gospels aren't great.
Clive's Best Bit: "Richard Vranch, the most talented person on the scene since the Monkees split up."
Josie's Best Bit: Some good bits in her F&TS scene with Mike.
Mike's Best Bit: Works well with Julian in Interview.
Paul's Best Bit: His F&TS scene really sparkles, he and Julian make a great pair, and the Film Dub is almost as good.
Julian's Best Bit:His Film Dub scene is truly a sticky moment.
Quote of the day: Paul: "Julian Clary, he's got a wife and three kids in Wolverhampton!"
Game should have been won by: The unique skills of Julian Clary brings something special to this show, but Paul Merton has his best show ever... watch this and admire a comic genius.
Should have stayed home and licked an ice block: Josie was disappointing.
Trivial Observation: Josie gets thoroughly humiliated by Paul's translation of her gibberish.
Overall: One of my all time favourite editions and worth it just to see Julian in something approaching ordinary clothing. Very much a Paul and Julian show with Josie and Mike for once playing second fiddle.
03-035-000-LONDON
Original Air Date:
Production Number:
Cast: Clive Anderson with Mike McShane, Colin Mochrie (first appearance), Sandi Toksvig, Tony Slattery and Richard Vranch at the piano.
Film And Theatre Styles: Colin can't sleep and Sandi tries to help him in the styles kitchen sink drama, childrens TV and farce. Then Tony and Mike have a duel in the styles Open University, Chinese opera, home video and melodrama.
Props: Mike and Sandi v Colin and Tony.
Helping Hands: Sandi orders a sandwich from Colin with Tony providing hands.
Musical Producers: The subject is wasps with Colin and Sandi producing and Tony and Mike performing.
World's Worst: Mike, Colin, Sandi and Tony perform the worst superhero.
Song Styles: Mike sings about a banana in rock and roll style.
News Report: The subject is the grand old duke of York with Sandi hosting, Tony as an expert, Colin as a reporter and Mike as one of the 10,000 men and the farmer who owns the hill.
Alphabet: Tony and Mike are two surgeons performing an operation.
March: Tony, Colin, Sandi and Mike sing about bankers.
Credits Reading: Tony as the most enthusiastic person in the world.
Game won by: Tony.
Best Game: The previously innocent Grand Old Duke of York song gets a brand new meaning.
Worst Game: Mike's song is not one of his best.
Clive's Best Bit: Warning Tony about rhymes for bankers.
Tony's Best Bit: Sensational as an expert in News Report.
Mike's Best Bit: Works well with Tony in the Musical producers game.
Sandi's Best Bit: Has great fun in the Film and Theatre Styles game.
Colin's Best Bit: Copes well with Tony in Helping Hands.
Quote of the day: Tony: "It's just come through on Reuters that he is now going to be rechristened the Grand Old Duke of Pork."
Game should have been won by: Sandi is great yet again.
Should have stayed home and ate chocolates: Colin makes a quiet debut but he has tough competition.
Trivial Observation: The debut performance for Colin Mochrie is the only show in which he appeared without Ryan Stiles. Includes two typical Colin moments: a salmon impression and an evasion of a singing game. Also, during Helping Hands, Tony pulls a comb out of Colin's pocket - something you wouldn't see nowadays!
Overall: A very strong team will have you wetting your pants with laughter.
03-036-000-LONDON
Original Air Date:
Production Number:
Cast: Clive Anderson with Mike McShane, Josie Lawrence, Denalda Williams (only appearance), Sandi Toksvig and Richard Vranch at the piano.
Emotion Option: Traffic warden Josie gives Denalda a ticket in the styles panic, paranoia, embarrassment and ecstasy.
Film And Theatre Styles: It's five minutes before the wedding of the daughter of Mike and Sandi in the styles Prisoner on Cell Block H, Biblical epic, spaghetti western, school play and James Bond.
Expert Translation: Denalda explains drains in Polynesian as Sandi translates.
Psychiatrist: Josie has advice for Denalda who is scared of peanut butter, and Mike who's in love with Easter bunnies.
Props: It's Mike and Denalda v Josie and Sandi.
Song Styles: The subject is staplers with Josie doing an Irish jig and Mike doing soul.
News Report: The subject is Little Bo Peep as Sandi hosts, Mike is an expert, Denalda a reporter, and Josie is a protesting sheep and Little Bo Peep.
Alphabet: Josie and Sandi are on a parachute jump.
Gospel: Josie, Denalda, Sandi and Mike sing about woodwork.
Credits Reading: Sandi as a headmistress.
Game won by: Sandi.
Best Game: Mike and Sandi are such a great team in F&TS... in heaven these two play this game continually.
Worst Game: The Gospels don't entirely click here.
Clive's Best Bit: Commenting on Josie's lack of alphabetic skills.
Josie's Best Bit: Just tops as a psychiatrist.
Mike's Best Bit: When he is singing with Josie, it often brings out the best in Mike. There's evidence here with a great Song Style after Josie's great song, and an Easter bunny song that is even better.
Sandi's Best Bit: Marvellous in F&TS.
Denalda's Best Bit: Plays well off Josie in Emotion Option.
Quote of the day: Sandi: "I am a piece of wood! And therefore I won't sing, although maybe I could."
Game should have been won by: Mike, a stunning performance.
Should have stayed home and spun the bottle: Denalda, who seems a sweetheart and has a lovely singing voice, but can't keep up with the others in the laughter stakes.
Trivial Observation: The only time three women appeared together on the show.
Overall: Three women and Mike means heaps of fun.
03-037-000-LONDON
Original Air Date:
Production Number:
Cast: Clive Anderson with Mike McShane, Paul Merton, Steve Steen (first appearance), Jim Sweeney and Richard Vranch at the piano.
Film And Theatre Styles: Jim interviews suspect Steve at the scene of the crime in the styles TV game show, Gilbert and Sullivan, TV advert. Then Mike and Paul exchange presents in the styles porno, 3D film, Roman epic and public information film.
News Report: It's Baa Baa Black Sheep with Jim hosting, Mike as the expert, Paul as the reporter and Steve as the little boy who lives down the lane and one of the sheep.
Expert Translation: Steve describes television in Albanian, translated by Paul.
Musical Film Review: Paul reviews The First Men Into Space where an astronaut goes into a cloud of meteor dust and returns as a vampire, which is performed by Mike, Jim and Steve.
Props: It's Mike and Paul v Jim and Steve.
Helping Hands: Paul goes through Customs ushered by Jim with Steve providing hands.
Party Quirks: Paul hosts with Steve as Paul Merton, Jim as a compulsive gambler and Mike as a US sports commentator.
March: The subject is collecting typewriters for Jim, Steve, Paul and Mike.
Credits Reading: Steve as Jimmy Saville.
Game won by: Steve.
Best Game: Steve Steen's impression of Paul Merton is simply spot-on and so funny.
Worst Game: The Helping Hands scene made no impression on me.
Clive's Best Bit: Joking about a gold haired wig used in Props.
Mike's Best Bit: I like him as an expert in News Report.
Paul's Best Bit: Translating Steve.
Jim's Best Bit: Some good bits in Film and Theatre Styles.
Steve's Best Bit: His Paul Merton impression.
Quote of the day: Steve (as Paul): "I've been listening to your records, none of the words rhyme." Paul: "Are you tone deaf... or he's doing me."
Game should have been won by: Paul, every scene he is in is a masterpiece, he even sings a good March.
Should have stayed home and dug the garden: Jim seems a tad overshadowed here.
Trivial Observation: Tony Slattery must be Clive's jokewriter as the balding one gets a Jeremy Beadle impression.
Overall:A wonderful programme with Paul in top form and some good support acts.
03-038-000-LONDON
Original Air Date:
Production Number:
Cast: Clive Anderson with Greg Proops, Sandi Toksvig, Tony Slattery, Mike McShane and Richard Vranch at the piano.
Film And Theatre Styles: Tony and Sandi are shipwrecked in the styles yellow pages advert, horror, western and whodunnit. Then Mike and Greg are in a driving test in the styles American sitcom, restoration comedy and French film.
Props: Mike and Sandi v Tony and Greg.
That Will Be Charlie Now: Mike, Sandi and Greg describe Tony as Charlie on a building site, whose head lolls like an ocelot, barks like a dog, plays hopscotch when he walks, tongue hangs out, flaps his arms, jams his finger up his nose, and breaks into a Schubert style love song.
Gospel: Greg, Tony, Sandi and Mike sing about America.
World's Worst: Greg, Sandi, Tony and Mike perform the worst person to captain a submarine.
Song Styles: Mike sings in opera style about a hammer.
Alphabet: Tony and Sandi are in a chat-up scene.
Party Quirks: Sandi hosts with Greg as a disc jockey, Tony as an elephant and Mike as a chorus girl.
Musical Film Review: Sandi reviews Midshipman Easy about a young naval officer who rescues a girl from Spanish bandits performed by Tony, Greg and Mike.
Credits Reading: Greg as Woody Allen.
Game won by: Greg.
Best Game: I'm biased of course because Charlie is my fave game.
Worst Game: It's not terrible but the Gospels are below the high standards of the rest of the show.
Clive's Best Bit: "From nowhere in particular, the impossibly behaved Tony Slattery."
Mike's Best Bit: His Song Styles song is among his best ever.
Tony's Best Bit: Very funny in the chat-up scene.
Sandi's Best Bit: A hilarious shipwreck... if you had to be shipwrecked who better to share an island with than Sandi and Tony.
Greg's Best Bit: Dominates the Musical Film Producers game with two great songs.
Quote of the day: Sandi: "If you don't like the orgasms, perhaps we can find a new one." Tony: "Let's look under M for Multiple, shall we." Sandi: "Seeing as it's you let's look under R for realistic."
Game should have been won by: In truth no-one dominated, all four were very, very funny, but seeing as someone has to win: Tony.
Should have stayed home and made paper darts: See above comments, but insert the name of Mike.
Trivial Observation: This was the last time the Charlie game was played and Tony seems embarrassed by how stupid the game is.
Overall: One of the all-time best shows, no stand-out performers or games but the laughs just keep on rolling with a very talented cast.
03-039-000-LONDON COMPILATION
Original Air Date:
Production Number:
Cast: Clive Anderson with Josie Lawrence, Mike McShane, Tony Slattery, Paul Merton, Sandi Toksvig, Greg Proops, Colin Mochrie, Jim Sweeney and Richard Vranch at the piano.
Props: Mike and Sandi v Colin and Tony.
Duet: Josie and Mike sing a love song about a stapler.
Tag: Sandi, Mike, Tony and Colin are in position.
Song Styles: Josie sings a punk rock song about a rubber duck.
Film Dub: Mike is a salesman, Sandi the customer, and Paul is a dog.
March: Tony, Sandi, Colin and Mike sing of surveyors.
Bits That Went Wrong: Josie and Sandi can't start their parachute jump in Alphabet. Paul gets bored in Authors.
Paul and Sandi exchange banter with Clive before Tag. Tony gets a kiss from Mike in Musical.
Song Styles: Mike sings a folk song about a banana.
World's Worst: Josie, Greg, Jim and Tony perform the worst person to be the last person on Earth.
Party Quirks: Sandi hosts with magnetic Jim, Paul can only speak in words of two syllables, and Mike is a bodyguard.
Musical: Greg, Tony, Josie and Jim sing about your girlfriend telling you she's pregnant, being mugged, and getting a job in TV.
Game won by: No winner as it's a compilation.
Best Game: The Musicals either work very well or not at all. This is probably the best Musical ever done.
Worst Game: By the extremely high standards of this show, Mike's banana song is not memorable.
Clive's Best Bit: His banter with Paul and Sandi in the Tag scene.
Josie's Best Bit: Watching the usually composed Josie break up all but entirely in Alphabet.
Mike's Best Bit: Kissing Tony on the lips.
Tony's Best Bit: Very funny in Tag.
Paul's Best Bit: A marvellous contribution as a dog in Film Dub.
Sandi's Best Bit: Loved her Film Dub.
Greg's Best Bit: Takes over the Musical in his manic way.
Jim's Best Bit: Very funny in Tag.
Colin's Best Bit: A good March from everyone's favourite Canadian.
Quote of the day: Paul to Clive: "Are you bald or is your neck blowing bubble gum?"
Game should have been won by: I think Sandi deserves it! Okay she is my second favourite ever.
Should have stayed home and decorated a Christmas tree: Jim doesn't show out much in his games.
Trivial Observation: Clive's banter is a real highlight here, at one point threatening Sandi with the sack.
Overall: What a way to end the British part of the series! Just about every game is excellent. The sort of show you would show to someone who hasn't seen the game before, it is just magic.
03-040-000-NEW YORK
Original Air Date:
Production Number:
Cast: Clive Anderson with Josie Lawrence, Ryan Stiles, Chris Smith (first appearance), Jim Meskimen (first appearance) and Richard Vranch at the piano.
Film And Theatre Styles: Josie and Ryan are at a gas station, in the styles horror, silent movie, porn film and melodrama. Then Jim tries to hire private detective Chris, in the styles Abbott and Costello, James Bond, and Bugs Bunny meets Jimmy Stewart.
Expert: Josie talks to Ryan on watermelons.
Interview: Chris talks to author Jim about rodents.
Song Styles: Josie sings a jazz song about spatula while Jim sings on the same subject, Sting-style.
Explanations: Chris as Spock and Jim as Kirk explain toasters.
Party Quirks: Chris hosts with Jim as a tough Wall Street businessman, Josie searches for buried treasure and Ryan is an astronaut on the moon.
Helping Hands: Chris visits dentist Ryan with Jim providing hands.
Hoedown: Jim, Chris, Ryan and Josie sing of stone carving.
Credits Reading: Ryan as a bad Shakesperian actor.
Game won by: Ryan.
Best Game: Josie and Ryan are a great combination especially in F&TS.
Worst Game: The rodent interview doesn't go anywhere.
Clive's Best Bit: "Orgasm, hmmm, that brings back happy memories."
Josie's Best Bit: F&TS with Ryan.
Ryan's Best Bit: Probably the F&TS game.
Jim's Best Bit: Skilful impression of Sting.
Chris's Best Bit: Maybe his F&TS scene with Jim.
Quote of the day: Josie: "I am just a spat with a ula on the end."
Game should have been won by: a few nerves in his first few shows, Ryan begins to look like the entertainer he was to develop into.
Should have stayed home and swatted flies: Chris. I don't think he made a joke the entire show. A straight man for Jim.
Trivial Observation: Ryan's eyes in Expert, his quirk... thats the Ryan we know and love! The American crowd seems too rowdy for Clive to handle.
Overall: Some very good scenes and some that are just okay.
03-041-000-NEW YORK
Original Air Date:
Production Number:
Cast: Clive Anderson with Mike McShane, Mark Cohen (last appearance), Greg Proops, John Sessions and Richard Vranch at the piano.
Authors: She's got to have more macaroni and cheese with Mike as the journals of Lewis and Clark, Mark as Mario Puzo, Greg as Millie the White House dog and John as Ernest Hemingway.
Film And Theatre Styles: John borrows something from neighbour Mark in the styles Film Noir, surrealist, commedia dell'arte and porno. Then teenage son Greg tells father Mike that he smashed in the car in the styles of David Lynch, Ibsen, and Hitchcock.
World's Worst: Mike, Mark, Greg and John perform the worst idea for a TV programme.
Props: Greg and John v Mike and Mark.
Song Styles: Mike sings a disco song about underwear.
Party Quirks: Mark hosts with Greg as an auctioneer, Mike as a US football coach and John as a bad mime artist.
Gospel: John, Greg, Mark and Mike sing on lawyers.
Credits Reading: John as Sean Connery.
Game won by: John.
Best Game: Mike and Greg have a Film and Theatre Styles scene which is one of the best in the entire series.
Worst Game: The only game that doesn't work is the credits where John goes overtime.
Clive's Best Bit: "Mark put his hand over his mouth, not a good idea when you'e on stage with John Sessions."
John's Best Bit: Some good World's Worst suggestions.
Mike's Best Bit: I defy anyone not to laugh at him in Film and Theatre Styles.
Greg's Best Bit: Millie the dog never sounded better.
Mark's Best Bit: Keeps up with John in F&TS.
Quote of the day: Mike: "I love it when you use me a split screen montage."
Game should have been won by: Mike, the big guy just bubbles over with talent.
Should have stayed home and cleaned the toilet: Mark isn't up to this extremely high standard.
Trivial Observation: John Sessions is often criticised for being selfish, yet in this episode he obviously enjoys the performance of the others. See him congratulate Mike after his song and Mark thank him for helping him through F&TS. And watch him in the background having a hell of a good time. Also the ginger-headed guy over Clive's shoulder is surely the audience member of the series.
Overall: A show that deserves to be regarded among the best ever made, despite the absence of such luminaries as Ryan Stiles, Colin Mochrie, Josie Lawrence and Tony Slattery.
03-042-000-NEW YORK
Original Air Date:
Production Number:
Cast: Clive Anderson with Josie Lawrence, Ryan Stiles, Colin Mochrie, Mike McShane and Richard Vranch at the piano.
Film And Theatre Styles: Josie tries to buy a gun from Mike in the styles horror, sports film and burlesque. Then Colin and Ryan are mending a roof in the styles surreal, kung fu, Shakespeare and B movie.
World's Worst: Josie, Ryan, Colin and Mike perform the worst person to defend you in court.
Helping Hands: Mike and Ryan with Colin providing hands are in a duel.
Musical: Mike, Ryan, Colin and Josie sing of travel, having a cold, and visiting France.
Song Styles: Mike sings of glasses in country and western style, and Josie sings of subways in Madonna style.
Party Quirks: Colin hosts with Ryan as a peeping tom, Josie as a vampire and Mike has an invisible friend.
Props: Colin and Mike v Josie and Ryan.
March: Josie, Ryan, Colin and Mike sing of dog sledding.
Credits Reading: Ryan as a model from a fashion magazine.
Game won by: Ryan.
Best Game: The F&TS scene shows Mike and Josie at their funny best.
Worst Game: Helping Hands doesn't work here.
Clive's Best Bit: "I don't know how to score that game which is a shame really because that's my job."
Josie's Best Bit: Give me a choice of Josie doing Madonna and Madonna doing Eva Peron. Josie wins every time.
Mike's Best Bit: Loved his rhino impression in F&TS.
Ryan's Best Bit: His peeping tom is hilarious.
Colin's Best Bit: The best of the dog sledding songs.
Quote of the day: Josie as a vampire: "Is that tomato juice over there?" Colin: "Sure it is." Josie: "Oh poop."
Game should have been won by: Colin has his best early show.
Should have stayed home and checked his clocks: Josie is a tad quieter than the others.
Trivial Observation: The first time Colin and Ryan work together and one sees signs of the long standing successful partnership that they were to become.
Overall: A very strong cast, and every game is a delight, except for Helping Hands. The hands have no props you see so really have nothing to do.
03-043-000-NEW YORK
Original Air Date: April 12, 1991
Production Number:
Cast: Clive Anderson with Chris Smith, Sandi Toksvig, Jim Meskimen, Mike McShane and Richard Vranch at the piano.
Authors: It's Maidens in the Mist with Chris as sports memoirs, Sandi as Agatha Christie, Jim as Tom Clancy and Mike as Edgar Rice Burroughs.
Explanations: Jim as Chico Marx explians fixing a tap to Chris as Groucho Marx.
Film Dub: Sandi and Mike come home from the supermarket.
Song Styles: The subject is microwave ovens with Jim doing Frank Sinatra and Chris doing opera.
Party Quirks: Sandi hosts with Chris as a politician, Jim as an old timer and Mike as a zookeeper.
Film And Theatre Styles: Boss Chris lets worker Jim go in the styles martial arts film, black exploitation, Bergman and western. Then Sandi is visited by Mike in prison in the styles science fiction, horror, Bugs Bunny and Rambo.
Gospel: The subject is bus drivers for Chris, Sandi, Jim and Mike.
Credits Reading: Jim as Popeye.
Game won by: Jim.
Best Game: Mike and Sandi are one of the few acts in F&TS enlivening this lemon.
Worst Game: The Gospel goes awry with the bus driver subject barely touched on.
Clive's Best Bit: After Jim's Frank Sinatra impression: "A full fooby dooby doo points there."
Mike's Best Bit: Has his moments as a zookeeper.
Sandi's Best Bit: Good in the F&TS scene.
Jim's Best Bit: Enjoyed his Frank Sinatra impression.
Chris's Best Bit: Does okay in F&TS.
Quote of the day: Mike: "Make me one of yours." Sandi: "I will, and I will do it with pleasure because it's only two days until my period."
Game should have been won by: Mike's talent rises above the others here.
Should have stayed home and updated her website: Sandi is unusually quiet here.
Trivial Observation: For some reason the vastly inferior Chris Smith gets the call to do a song ahead of the saintly Mike.
Overall: Rarely for the middle history of this show, this one is a dud. Put it out with the rubbish.
03-044-000-NEW YORK
Original Air Date:
Production Number:
Cast: Clive Anderson with John Sessions (last appearance), Archie Hahn, Ryan Stiles, Mike McShane and Richard Vranch at the piano.
Film And Theatre Styles: Archie tries to join John's Merry Men of Sherwood in the styles Shakespeare, slapstick, dog film and martial arts. Then Mike goes to help Ryan whose car has broken down in the styles horror, cartoon and ballet.
Song Styles: Mike sings a torch song about a suitcase.
Sound Effects: Ryan travels by train with Archie providing sounds.
World's Worst: John, Archie, Ryan and Mike perform the worst person to share a flat with.
Props: John and Ryan v Archie and Mike.
Audition: Ryan directs The Dead Greasy Godfather Society with John as a method actor, Archie tap dancing and Mike singing the Godfather dying song.
Helping Hands: Ryan with Archie providing hands is a customer in a restaurant complaining to waiter Mike.
Film Dub: Ryan and Archie wake up somewhere strange.
Gospel: John, Archie, Ryan and Mike sing of milkmen.
Credits Reading: John as Phil Silvers.
Game won by: John.
Best Game: Mike's song is a great moment.
Worst Game: John and Archie are not a great combo in F&TS.
Clive's Best Bit: Archie brings on a prop: castanets for his tapdancing bit in Audition, and Clive correctly reprimands him. "It's improvisation we want." Well said!
Mike's Best Bit: The song is a stunner.
John's Best Bit: A clever Bilko/Phil Silvers impression.
Archie's Best Bit: Some good lines in the Film Dub.
Ryan's Best Bit: Very funny with Mike in Helping Hands.
Quote of the day: Clive: "Okay we're not waiting for the dog to come."
Game should have been won by: Ryan the tall guy in top form.
Should have stayed home and sorted his clothes: Archie who cheats in Audition by preparing his turn and bringing on castanets. This should have earned him banishment from the show but strangely he was recalled next year.
Trivial Observation: John sits in the first seat, the only occasion he wasn't in the last seat. He is not at his best here, a shame for his last appearance.
Overall: Average.
03-045-000-NEW YORK
Original Air Date:
Production Number:
Cast: Clive Anderson with Greg Proops, George McGrath, Ryan Stiles, Mike McShane and Richard Vranch at the piano.
Story: George tells the story of my favourite toy with the moral never play with electricity performed by Mike, Greg and Ryan.
Film And Theatre Styles: George is a corporate boss and Ryan a window cleaner, in the styles Sam Peckinpah, cartoon and musical comedy.
Props: George and Mike v Ryan and Greg.
Alphabet: Ryan shows Greg around the zoo.
Hoedown: Greg, George, Ryan and Mike sing about scuba diving.
Audition: Ryan is director of The west Side of Oklahoma with Greg doing the dance of the shark wagon train, Mike reading a poem, and George singing Who's Got The Knives.
Helping Hands: Policeman Ryan with Greg as his hands pulls up Mike for speeding.
Party Quirks: Ryan hosts with George shocked by everything, Mike as a school bus driver and Greg as a square dance caller.
Musical: Greg, Mike, George and Ryan sing about sky diving, going to Australia and having your car broken into.
Credits Reading: George, Greg, Mike and Ryan as tourists to New York.
Game won by: George, Greg, Mike and Ryan.
Best Game: A good party scene.
Worst Game: The Storyteller scene is silly, long and obvious.
Clive's Best Bit: "You left out O... but very good, I'll give you no points which is O in another form."
Mike's Best Bit: Enjoyed the Helping Hands scene.
Greg's Best Bit: Amusing in the Alphabet game.
Ryan's Best Bit: Very funny as party host.
George's Best Bit: Very believable as someone shocked.
Quote of the day: Ryan on morals from the Story: "Number one, never take a bath with another man."
Game should have been won by: Ryan is in scintilating form.
Should have stayed home and trimmed his eyebrows: George's googly eyes get the better of me.
Trivial Observation: Ryan makes one of only two appearances as party host despite Greg also being on the show. George McGrath also uses a prop during Audition - an unlit cigarette - for his impression of Anthony Newley, but unlike Archie Hahn the previous week, he was not penalised. Also this is the first ever episode with all-American contestants.
Overall: Some gems, some dross.
03-046-000-NEW YORK
Original Air Date:
Production Number:
Cast: Clive Anderson with Josie Lawrence, Greg Proops, Sandi Toksvig (last appearance), Mike McShane and Richard Vranch at the piano.
March: The subject for Josie, Greg, Sandi and Mike is taxidermy.
Alphabet: Greg goes to optician Sandi.
Tag: Greg, Mike, Sandi and Josie are in position.
Psychiatrist: Psychiatrist Josie has advice for Greg who hates women and Mike who is in love with poodles.
Props: Josie and Greg v Mike and Sandi.
party Quirks: Sandi hosts with Mike as a World war 2 submarine captain, Josie as a circus performer and Greg as a horse racing commentator.
Film And Theatre Styles: Mike and Greg are pilotting an aeroplane in the styles Rocky, Rocky Horror show, love story and Saturday Night Fever.
Musical: Josie, Mike, Greg and Sandi sing of training for a marathon, psychology and visiting roommates.
Credits Reading: Greg as the most stupid person in the world.
Game won by: Greg.
Best Game: Mike and Greg will have you giggling in F&TS.
Worst Game: The Alphabet game doesn't get going.
Clive's Best Bit: "Get down, get down, Greg." Greg: "You never stop do you, you're insatiable." Clive: "You never start."
Mike's Best Bit: Loved him in F&TS.
Josie's Best Bit: I'd always take my psychiatric problems to Dr Josie.
Sandi's Best Bit: A good taxidermy March.
Greg's Best Bit: Poor Greg, so scared of women.
Quote of the day: Sandi: "I stuff him up the bum with little bits of tile. I think it really hurts but he's got a heck of a smile."
Game should have been won by: Greg, at his witty best here.
Should have stayed home and done a crossword: Sandi has a relatively quiet day.
Trivial Observation: Is Sandi the best ever party host? If you watch this show your answer could be yes.
Overall: A great quartet presents a bellyfull of bellylaughs.
03-047-000-NEW YORK COMPILATION
Original Air Date:
Production Number:
Cast: Clive Anderson with Mike McShane, Josie Lawrence, Greg Proops, Ryan Stiles, Colin Mochrie, Jim Meskimen, Chris Smith, George McGrath (last appearance) and Richard Vranch at the piano.
Authors: Three Men And A Duck with Greg as Zane Grey, George as the Bible, Ryan as the National Geographic and Mike as an American greeting card.
Song Styles: Josie sings a country song about a refrigerator.
News Report: It's Jack and Jill with Greg hosting, Mike as the expert, George as the reporter, and Ryan as the well keeper and Jill's cousin, Skippy.
Helping Hands: Mike goes to see fortune teller Ryan with Colin providing hands.
World's Worst: Josie, Ryan, Chris and Jim perform the worst person to sit next to at the movies.
Psychiatrist: Dr Mike has advice for Ryan who's obsessed with men.
Expert: Greg interviews Ryan about aerobics.
Party Quirks: Ryan hosts with George sleepwalking, Mike as a cannibal and Greg as a newspaper vendor.
Psychiatrist: Dr Josie has advice for Jim in love with James Brown.
Film Dub: George and Ryan argue about the best song of all-time.
Props: Josie and Chris v Ryan and Jim.
Rap: Mike, Ryan, George and Greg sing about stamp collecting.
Game won by: No winner as it's a compilation.
Best Game: Ryan's men song is one of the funniest he has ever done, and a stand-out in a very funny show.
Worst Game: For some reason Josie is off her best in Song Styles.
Clive's Best Bit: Worrying about the rhymes for duck.
Mike's Best Bit: Watch the big guy get into the Rap.
Josie's Best Bit: Excellent in her psychiatrist scene with Jim.
Greg's Best Bit: Great in his combo with Ryan in Interview.
Ryan's Best Bit: Clearly his men song.
Colin's Best Bit: His hands help Ryan out.
Jim's Best Bit: The James Brown song is a visual delight.
Chris's Best Bit: The odd Props idea.
George's Best Bit: Very silly in the Film Dub scene.
Quote of the day: Ryan's song is so good, it bears recording the whole thing: " I hate women, they always think they're the bosses, it's their fault, having no penises is their losses. I like guys, big strong men, sometimes I go to bed with eight or nine or ten, oh Doctor, help me, help me please, help me straighten out."
Game should have been won by: Ryan is simply in sensational form, shining in every scene. Easy to see why he became all but a permanent fixture after this.
Should have stayed home and cooked toast: Chris.
Trivial Observation: Sandi Toksvig gets her name in the credits despite not performing.
Overall: A gem of a way to finish the series.
